Hinge



' June 8, 1943.

E. H. ZECHIEL HINGE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1942 7 .M wa @5w INVENTOR June 8, 1943.

E. H. zEcl-HEL 2,321,118

HINGE Filed Jan. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR TTOR/vf Y EUGENE H. Zaag/a' Patented .lune 8, 1943 UNITED STATES iaTET OFFICE 6 Claims. This invention relates to hinge constructions,

'and has for an object the provision of an improved and simplified hinge of the longitudinally continuous type known in the trade as the piano hinge.

Another object of my present invention is the provision of a continuous hinge of the general character indicated, which, instead of employing alternate, coaxially arranged hubs pivotally interengaged by a separate pintle, comprises cooperatively interfltted hubs engaged one within the other in such a manner that the male hub serves as the pintle pivotally interconnecting the two leaves of the hinge.

A further object in this connection is to provide a hinge which is perfectly free swinging throughout its entire range of movement, permanently rattle-proof, and thoroughly dependable in that it can be relied upon indefinitely to support the load imposed upon it, and yet which is so arranged that the two parts are substantially instaneously disconnectible, thereby permitting facile and expeditious mounting and dismounting of the hingedly supported member.

Another object is to provide a longitudinally continuous hinge as described, which is particularly adapted for, but is not necessarily limited to, use in connection with a shower door, for the reason that it provides a substantially Water tight joint between the hingedly joined members, and also, because its design is such that it lends itself with particular aptitude for manufacture 'as an integral part of the metal channel commonly employed as a frame for the glass of conventional glass shower doors.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a hinge for a shower door or the like, which does not detract from the ornamental appearance of the associated fixtures, but, on the contrary, is substantially invisible, and therefore not recognizable as a hinge structure. at all,r except under rather close scrutiny.

This invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of my vinvention illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing `made by these drawings and description as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of a glass fil shower door hingedly supported by means of a hinge construction embodying the principles ,of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view in hori,v

zontal section taken upon the lines 2--2 of Fig. 1

with the direction of view as indicated. Portions of the gure are broken away to reduce its length.

Figure 3 is a more highly enlarged detailed view in vertical section taken upon the lines 3 3 of Fig. 1 with the direction of View as indicated. Y

Figure 4 is another detailed view substantially the same scale as Fig, 3 taken in horizontal section upon the lines 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figures 5, 6, '7, and8 are all'views similar to Fig. 2 but illustrate the door in successive steps of its mounting upon the jam.

Figure 9 is a detail view in transverse section, drawn to enlarged scale, of a slightly modified form of hinge construction embodying the principles of the present invention.

The drawings illustrate the hinge of my invention as being used for. the pivotal support.v

of a glass shower doorv II inasmuch as certain details of theconstruction ofthe hinge adapt lit particularly for this type of service. However, is is to be understood Athat the hinge-Gambe I applied to other structures such asvother types of doors, French windows, and the like, without departing from the spirit of the presentinven.

tion. l

It will be observed that the hinge, which is indicated in its entirety at, I2, comprises male and female hub sections I3 and I4, respectively, connected rigidly with thev jamb hinged edge I'I of the door II, respectively. It shouldbe understood,- however, that these parts can be reversed with equal advantage, i. e., .by

mounting the male hub-I3lupon the door. and thel female hub I-'I upon the jamb. Both of the hub sections I3 and I4 are preferably substantially coextensive in length with the door II,

therein. Y l

One of the reasons that the hinge of the present invention lends itself with particular apti-` tude for use in connection with av glass shower door is that the leafl associated with -each of the hubs very conveniently can be formed as an in- I6 and the e tegral portion of a part of the ordinary hardware employed in the construction of such doors and their associated jamb members. With this idea in mind the leaf 2| of the male hub member I3 is of channel section preferably identical in shape and size to the channel member conventionally employed as the jamb of a glass shower door. Similarly the leaf 22 of the female hub section I4 can conveniently be formed as an integral portion of the channel section 23 within which one edge of the glass 24 is mounted.

The male hub section I3 comprises two flanges 26 and 21. The flange 26 is of arcuate cross section and extends laterally from the channel shaped jamb member 2|. Where the flange 26 first leaves channel 2| it is substantially in planar alignment with the web 28 of the channel 2|, whence the flange extends through substantially 90 of arc so that adjacent its outer edge the flange 26 extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to and offset from the web 28 as is clearly seen in Fig. 2. The flange 21 is a terminal flange inasmuch as it is carried at the extreme outer edge of the arcuate flange 26. This terminal flange 21 extends inwardly, i. e., towards the center of the arc described by the flange 26--in fact center of this arc preferably lies within the terminal edge of the flange 21; and it is about this arcs center that the two hinge sections rotate with respect to each other.

The female hub section I4 also comprises a pair of flanges 3| and 32, these flanges, however, being in opposed relationship inasmuch as they both are mounted directly upon the leaf 22 of this hinge section and extend in different directions therefrom. The initial portion of the flange 3| representsa continuation of one side 33 of the associated channel 23;,and at a short distance from the outer face of the web 20 of this channel the flange 3| is deflected outwards thus presenting a lip 36 which preferably is curved on its outer face whereas its inner face is substantially flat and disposed in a plane extending at only slight angularity to that of the web 26. The flange 32 extends from the side 33 of the channel 23 offset towards the center of the door from the web 20 of the channel 23. This flange 32 is `arcuate with the result that although the portion of the two flanges 3| and 32 which are proximal to the channel 23 are divergent with respect to each other, their outer portions converge toward each other. The two flanges 3| and.32.terminate, however, short of actual contact with each other thus leaving an opening 31 leading into the spacel 38 embraced by the flanges 3| and 32. Furthermore, the flange 32 terminates short of the plane of the flat inner side of the lip 36 of the other flange 3| as is most clearly shown upon Fig. 5. Thev center of the arc described by the flange 32 is disposed closely adjacent or actually within the line of intersection of the lip 36 with the remainder of the flange 3|. In size the inner face of the flange 32 of the female hub is substantially the same as, or slightly larger than, the outer face ofthe arcuate flange 26 of the male hub. l

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of interengagement of the male and female hubs I3 and I4, respectively, when the hinge is assembled so as to pivotally support the door II upon the jamb I6. The arcuate flange 26 of the male hub I3 curves around the outer edge of the lip 36 of the flange 3| of the female hub I4, and hence through the opening 31 so as to dispose the terminal flange 21 of the male hub inside the space 38 embraced between the flanges 3|A and 32 of the female hub I4. Accordingly, the terminal edge of the flange 21 lies closely adjacent the line of intersection of the lip 36 and the remainder of the flange 3| and the flange 21 operates to prevent separation of the hinge section in a direction parallel to a tangent to the arcuate flange 26 taken adjacent its outer edge, i. e., in a direction perpendicular to the face of the jamb I6.

-As stated, the arcuate flange 32 of the female hub section I4 terminates short of the plane of the flat inner face of the lip 36 of the other ange 3|; but the distance between this plane and the extreme terminal edge of the arcuate flange 32 is less than the thickness of the terminal flange 21 of the male hub section I3 With the result that when the door is in its fully closed position as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, the outer edge of the arcuate flange 32 extends into overlapping relationship with the arcuate flange 26 of the male hub section I3 and thereby prevents separation of the hub sections in a direction substantially parallel to this terminal flange 21.

It is this engagement between the inner face of the flange 32 of the female hub with the outer face of the arcuate flange 26 of the male hub which retains the extreme edge of the terminal flange 21 seated within the line of intersection of the lip 36 with the remainder of the flange 3| of the female hub section. During 'opening and closing movements of the door II the female hub section pivots in a rocking movement about this extreme edge of the terminal flange 21; and when the door has swung open through 96 thus swinging the lip 36 of the flange 3| so far that the plane of its inner face then is perpendicular to the face of the jamb I6, the arcuate flange 32 of the female hub will have slid through degrees around the arcuate outer face of the flange 26 of the male hub so that separation of the hub sections by movement of the door directly away from the jamb I6 is then prevented by such engagement between the two arcuate flanges 32 and 26. When in that position the flanges 32 and 26 are held against separation in a direction parallel to the face of the jamb and downwards as viewed upon Figs. 2 and 5 to 8 inclusive, is prevented by the engagement of the terminal edge of the flange 21 of the male member with the inner face of the lipr36 of the flange 3| of the female member.

In accordance with conventional practice the door` II is provided with a stop 4| affixed rigidly to the jamb 42 opposite the jamb I6 to which the door is hinged. As stated hereinabove when the door is in its fully closed position, this being determined by engagement of the outer edge 43 of the door II when a flange 44 on the door stop 4| the extreme edge of the arcuate ange 32 of the female hub section is disposed in overlapping relationship with the arcuate flange 26 of the male hub section I3. However, when it is desired to dismount the door II from the jamb I6 on which it is khinged it is necessary only to remove the stop 4I, it being understood that this stop 4I is mounted, as by screws 46 or the like so as to permit facile mounting and dismounting of the stop 4|. After the stop 4| has been removed the door can be swung beyond its closed position slightly, to substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the extreme edge of the arcuate flange 32 of the female hub section has been withdrawn from its` overlapping engagement with the arcuate flange 26 of the male hub section, vThereafter all that is necessary to dismount the door is to move the entire door bodily upwards and to the right slightly as viewed upon Figs. to 8 inclusive, i. e., from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Accordingly, it is not necessary to slide one hub section axially with respect to the other to effect their engagement or disengagement as is the case with more conventional continuous hub type hinges. This is another of the features which particularly adapt the hinge of the present invention for use in connection with shower doors for the reason that it is quite common for such doors to be installed in locations where they cannot be opened far enough to permit fastening the jamb channel 2| in place while the door is operatively mounted thereupon. Neither is it feasible first to fasten the jamb channel 2| in position and then to engage the door thereupon by sliding axially the full length of the door for the reason that overhead structure prevents raising the door high enough to permit the lower edge of the door to be slipped over the upper edge of the hub section carried by the jamb.

Mounting the door upon the jamb after the male hub section I3 has been rigidly secured thereupon is accomplished in the reverse manner from that already described. This is accomplished before the stop 4I hasbeen mounted. The door |I is rst placed in approximately the position illustrated in Fig. 5, i. e., swung slightly beyond its fully closed position. 'Ihis will permit the lip 36 of the flange 3| of the female hub section to be slid behind the terminal flange 31 of the male hub section as indicated in Fig. 6. Continuing movement of the door bodily downward, i. e., in translatory movement until the extreme edge of the terminal flange 21 engages the line of intersection of the lip 36 with the remainder of its flange 3|. It will be found that the extreme edge of the arcuate flange 32 of the female hub section will then have passed the inner edge of the terminal flange 2'! of the male hub section with the result that the door can then be swung to its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 7 and then beyond that toits open position as in Fig. 8. Thereupon, the stop lII should be mounted in operative position as in Figs. 2 and 7 which will effectually prevent the door from swinging to that position in which it can be released from the jamb I6 on which itis hinged.

Means are provided preferably adjacent the bottom of the door to support the weight of the door and thereby retain it at the desired elevation above the threshold 5I. Such means conveniently takes the form of a cleat 52 substantially corresponding in length to the space 53 which is to be left between the threshold 5I and the bottom edge 54 of the mounted door. This cleat 52 comprises a flat portion 56 having an enlarged bead 57 along one edge thereof. A notch 58 is formed in the outer face of the bead 51 complementary to and adapted to receive the doorway 64 for which it serves as a pivoted clo-.

sure.

Since both flanges of both hub sections are continuous and substantially coextensive in length to the door and jamb with which they are associated they provide a substantially invisible hinge, or at least a hinge which is not readily identiable as such because of the absence of interstices between alternate hubs such as those employed in the conventional hinge wherein hubs are interconnected by a removable pintle. The absence of such interstices also aids in making the hinge a substantially water-tight joint. However, in the event that the interior surfaces of the hinge should become contaminated by the sediment which frequently accumulates on flxtures associated with a shower stall it can readily be removed simply by dismounting the door and then wiping the exposed surfaces of the cooperative hinge parts. The completely open nature of both male and female hub sections permits easy access to both the exterior and the interior surfaces thereof so that such cleansing can be accomplished readily. y

Figure 9 illustrates a slightly modified form of my improved continuous hinge, wherein the male hub member I3 is provided with a slight bead 56 on the outer face of the arcuate flange 26. This bead 66 is disposed on that portion of the flange 25 which is concealed behind the outer edge of the arcuate flange 32 of the female hub section I4 when the door is closed. Consequently the bead 66 might be considered a continuation of the terminal flange 21. Its function is to provide a bearing surface to retain the flange 32 spaced from the portion of the flange 26 which is visible, and thereby protect this visible portion from the scratching and wear which are apt to develop in the absence of such spacing means. In other respects, this modification is the same as that previously described, the male hub I3' being mounted upon its supporting leaf 2| and engaged by the opposed flanges 3| and 32v of the female hub I2', which is carried by the leaf 22.

. I claim:

1. In a hinge of the character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member and on a member movable withl respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange and a retaining flange extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of `said flanges extending toward-each other but terminating in relatively spaced relation to define an opening leading to the space embraced by said flanges, and a male hub on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of said retaining flange of said female hub and through said openingr into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from bothof said arcuate flanges to said retaining flange where it is disposed substantially at the center of the arcs of said arcuate flanges, the inner 'face of said female arcuate flange slidably engaging the outer face of said male arcuate flange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs.

2, In a hinge of the character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member Aand on a member movable with respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of said flanges extending toward eachother but terminating in relatively spaced relation to define an opening leading tothe space embraced by said flanges, and a male hub on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of one of the flanges of said female hub and through said opening into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from said arcuate flange, the terminal edge of said radial flange being disposed substantially at the center of the arc of said arcuate flange and engaging the inner face of said flange around the edge of which said arcuate flange extends, the inner face of the other flange of said female hub also being arcuate about said center and slidably engaging the outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs, said arcuate flange of said female hub extending beyond the intersection of said flanges of said male hub to engage said arcuate flange of said male hub and thereby restrain said hubs against separation in a, direction substantially parallel to said radial flange in all normal relative positions of said hubs.

3. In a hinge of the character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member and on a member movable with respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of said flanges extending toward each other but terminating in relatively spaced relation to define an -opening leading to the space embraced by said flanges, and a male huby on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of one of the flanges of said female hub and through said opening into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from said arcuate flange. the terminal edge of said radial flange being disposed substantially at the center of the arc of said arcuate flange and engaging the inner face of said flange around the edge of which said arcuate flange extends, the inner face of the other flange of said female hub also being arcuate about said center and slidably engaging the outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs, said arcuate flange of said female hub terminating short of the plane of the outer face of said radial flange of said male hub when said male hub has swung to one of its extreme positions whereby said hubs can be separated by lateral movement in a direction parallel to said radial flange.

4. In a hinge of the character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member and on a member movable with respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of said flanges extending toward each other but terminating in relatively spaced relation to define an opening leading to the space embraced by said flanges, and a male hub on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of one of the flanges of said female hub and through said opening into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from said arcuate flange, the terminal edge of said radial flange being disposed substantially at the center of the arc of said arcuate flange and engaging the inner face of said flange around the edge of which said arcuate flange extends, the inner face of the other flange of said female hub also being arcuate about said center and slidably engaging the outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs, said arcuate flange of said female hub terminating short of the plane of the outer face of said radial flange of said male hub when said male hub has swung to one of its extreme positions whereby said hubs can be separated by movement in a direction parallel to said radial flange, and removable stop means rigid with said stationary member in position to engage said movable member and restrict it against movement to disengaging position of said hubs.

5. In a hinge of ythe character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member and on a member movable with respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of said flanges extending toward each other but terminating in relatively spaced relation to deflne an opening leading to the space embraced by said flanges, and a male hub on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of one of the flanges of said female hub and through said opening into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from said arcuate flange, the terminal edge of said radial flange being disposed substantially at the center of the arc of said arcuate flange and engaging the inner face of said flange around the edge of which said arcuate flange extends, the inner face of the other flange of said female hub also being arcuate about said center and slidably engaging the outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs, said arcuate flange of said female hub extending beyond the intersection of said flanges of said male hub to engage said arcuate flange of said male hub and thereby restrain said hubs against separation in a direction substantially parallel to said radial flange in all normal relative positions of said hubs, and means providing a raised portion on that portion of the outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub member beyond which said arcuate flange of` said female hub member normally extends whereby contact is prevented between the normally exposed portion of said outer face of said arcuate flange of said male hub member of said arcuate flange of said female hub member.

6. In a hinge of the character described, a pair of cooperative hinge leaves adapted to be mounted respectively on a stationary member and on a member movable with respect thereto, a female hub on one of said leaves comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending divergently from their associated leaf, the outer portions of said flanges extending toward each other but terminating in relatively spaced relation to deflne an opening leading to the space embraced by said flanges, and a male hub on the other of said leaves comprising an arcuate flange curving around the outer edge of one of the flanges of said female hub and through said opening into said embraced space and a radial flange extending radially inwards from said arcuate flange, the terminal edge of said radial flange being disposed substantially at the center of the arc of said arcuate flange and engaging the inner face of said flange around the edge of which said arcuate flange extends, the inner face of the other flange of said female hub also being arcuate about said center and slidably engaging the outer face ,of

said arcuate ange of said male hub as relative rotary motion occurs between said hubs, said arcuate ange of said female hub terminating short of said male hub when said male hub has swung to one of its extreme positions whereby said hubs can be separated by movement in a direction parallel to said radial ange, and removable stop means rigid with said stationary member in position to engage said movable member and restrict it; against movement to disengaging posi- 10 

